Designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO, the temples of Angkor in Cambodia are among the world's most impressive monuments.  Two lovely books of photographs have just been published that capture the essence of these sites.

SANCTUARY: The Temples of Angkor, Steve McCurry

McCurry has beautifully and evocatively photographed the temples and over one hundred of his images of the site are collected in this book, which documents a magical world of carved gods, weathered masonry, tangled vegetation and orange-robed monks. The photographs are accompanied by an informative introduction on the history and meaning of Angkor.

ANGKOR: Celestial Temples of the Khmer Empire, Jon Ortner

Photographs of fifty of the most important and unique monuments of the Khmer Empire are accompanied by a text written by a team of experts, providing historical, architectural, and religious analyses of Angkor and the Khmer civilization. Ortner's images include spectacular views from the rooftops of its temples, glorious landscapes, and details of inscriptions and art that few have ever seen. An appendix includes a glossary, a chronology of construction, and a chart of the kings and their accomplishments. Black-and-white floor plans and historic watercolors complete this tribute.